LEST WE FORGET 267 OBEE, Henry Alfred “Harry” WWI Henry “Harry” Alfred Obee (also known in some documents as William Henry Obee; he had two service numbers) was born in London, England on June 8, 1890 (different documents list the year of birth as 1889 or 1891). His parents were William and Harriett Obee. He listed his occupation as surveyor and his address as Conquest when he enlisted as a single man in Moose Jaw on June 8, 1916. His attestment papers identify Joseph Lorimer, a friend from Conquest as next of kin. Mr. Lorimer was well known in Conquest for the help he provided to newcomers. Henry Obee was clearly determined to serve Canada in the army. He was declared fit for service at the date of his enlistment, despite the fact that his vision was very poor. Less than a year later, he received a discharge because of his vision problem. His service record states the severity of the problem: “the patient cannot distinguish objects at all with his left eye at either close range or at a distance… Sight in the right eye is also poor, especially at a distance.” That should have ended his military career. However, using the name William Henry Obee, he re-enlisted in Merritt, BC on January 17, 1918 in the 2nd Battalion BC Regiment at the age of 27. Astonishingly, he was sent overseas where he served from September 4, 1918 until April 6, 1919 with the 21st Battalion in France. The 21st Battalion played key roles in the war, including at Vimy Ridge. When Harry Obee joined the battalion in September 1918, it was part of the famous Hundred Day Offensive that ultimately led to the end of World War I. After his discharge in Toronto on May 29, 1919, Private Obee married Mona Clementine King. They had three sons before their divorce: Dallas James, Clarence and Albert Henry. He settled in Williams Lake, BC following the war where he worked as a carpenter and finished his career as a foreman. He died on May 30, 1959, in New Westminster, BC, at the age of 68. ODELL, Nelson Jr. WWII Nelson was born in Kincaid, Saskatchewan on April 21, 1918. His family homesteaded near Caroline, Alberta. He enlisted in the Calgary Highlanders in March 1940 with his father and brother and was sent overseas in the fall of 1943. He was discharged in 1946 but joined the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1948. Nelson passed away on March 5, 1965.
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